The Power of Bits and Pieces

Words of Namo Amituofo, recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe, on the third of December, 2022.

The Persistence of the Dripping Water

Dripping water wears away stone. This refers to the way that water, falling drop by drop in a continuous and persistent manner, eventually possesses the power to penetrate even the hardest rock. Therefore, you must never underestimate the power of these bits and pieces of effort. When small actions are accumulated over time, they grow into a force of great magnitude.

If you find that your life lacks even these small, subtle movements of progress, you are essentially remaining stagnant. When you remain in such a state, you lose the opportunity for transformation. In fact, it is difficult to even maintain your current state; without active, diligent practice, you will inevitably begin to regress. If you continue to practise in this manner, you will find yourself drifting further and further away from the state of an awakened being.

The Accumulation of Every Moment

Every single action you take contributes to your journey. Consider the following:

• Every bit of effort you exert in your practice.
• Every small change you make to your habits.
• Every incremental step of progress you achieve.
• Every moment of regression that occurs when you lose focus.

Even the ageing and the gradual withering of your physical body are processes that occur in the blink of an eye. When your body begins to send you warning signals, it is time to make a change. You must act quickly to change your personality traits, resolve the conflict, and engage in Chao Du. These are the methods that you must utilise wisely while Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su are present to guide you.

The Path to the Western Land

Regardless of your past, it is never too late to turn your life around. As long as you still have a single breath remaining and your consciousness is clear, you can sincerely chant Namo Amituofo. If you chant with a focused heart and a pure intention, you will be able to fulfil your desire for rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. At Hsiang Kuang: A Sacred Sanctuary, this wish can truly be realised.

However, if one is approaching the end of life and their consciousness is clouded, they may find it difficult to understand the truth. If their heart is burdened by attachments, it becomes hard for kind words and the Dharma to enter their mind. Consequently, they will suffer the suffering of the separation of the four elements, and their spirit will follow their karma into the cycle of rebirth.

Preparing for the Final Journey

Therefore, while you are still alive, you must take the initiative to listen to sutras and hear the Dharma. You must personally accumulate the Three Provisions required for rebirth in the Western Pure Land: Faith, Vows, and Practice. If you can practise with such diligence that you achieve success and become an awakened being, you will not only be able to know the time of your departure in advance, but you will also be able to travel back to the Western Pure Land with complete freedom. This is the achievement of this lifetime, built upon your own solid, down-to-earth efforts, accumulated bit by bit.

Namo Amituofo